Chapter 156

"Good morning," Paris smiled, motioning Jess over as he walked into the Inn. He smiled and walked over to her.

"Morning," he nodded, setting his laptop down on the table, "Don't seem to be many other people working down here right now."

"I think it's not generally a work-on-the-weekends type of crowd," Paris replied, coffee in one hand and typing with her other, though still looking up to answer Jess' question. "To be honest, I'm surprised you're a work-on-the-weekends type of guy."

"I don't know that I'd say I am," Jess replied, taking the seat next to her and opening his laptop, "It's just…a busy time. And we're a little short-staffed."

"No Yale grads kicking down your door anymore?"

"Shockingly enough," he smirked, "Hey, where'd you get…"

"Jess! Let me grab you some coffee. Have you had anything to eat?" Sookie said, rushing in cheerily.

"Um, no, but I'm not really…"

"Stay right there!" Sookie ordered, rushing out. Jess looked at Paris, raising an eyebrow.

"…we're going to have a tower of food now, aren't we?"

"Yep," Jess shrugged. "Anyway…it doesn't surprise me at all that you're working on a weekend."

"No?"

"Should it?"

"I guess not," Paris shrugged, her eyes downcast, "It's kind of who I've always been."

"Is this part of your not-at-all-Rory-esque existential crisis?" Jess teased. Paris smiled softly.

"Alright, alright. I'll keep it to myself."

"Not what I meant," Jess promised, "I just tend to kid around. That's how I interact."

"…not my strong suit. But I'll work on it."

"So…?"

"So…"

"Oh, thanks, Sookie," Jess said politely, as Sookie came in, handing him a fresh mug of coffee, topping off Paris' cup, and setting a stack of donuts between them.

"I thought you both might like donuts. They aren't Luke's, but…"

"They're fantastic! What are these?" Paris asked, already stuffing her face with one, to Jess' great amusement. He picked up one of his own, took a bite, and immediately understood Paris' enamoration.

"Seriously, what's in these? Crack?" he said disbelievingly. Sookie's cheeks turned pink as she grinned.

"They're cinnamon-apple-fritter donuts with a bourbon caramel glaze," she confided.

"I didn't see that on the menu," Paris said, confused.

"Well they aren't, for most people," Sookie winked, "But any friend of Rory's gets special treatment around here. That girl had me wrapped around her finger before I had any kids myself."

"I think I'm starting to understand how that can happen," Paris agreed, sharing a smile with Sookie.

"I'm sure you are, kiddo. You're absolutely glowing," Sookie promised, "Oh! Bacon!"

"That's not…"

"Nope. Pregnancy rules. I'll bring some out shortly. Sorry Jess- that's just for Paris. Though I guess you can order some if you'd like!"

"…I think the doughnuts are more than enough for me. Thanks, Sookie," Jess said, deeply amused by Sookie's enthusiasm and the resulting blush on Paris' face. Sookie grinned at them both and walked away.

"So…you were saying…"

"I wasn't."

"Damn, thought I had ya there."

"Well maybe that works on your Truncheon boys, but…"

"Stop stalling."

"…fine. Rory really didn't tell you?"

"Nope. She's pretty good about keeping people's confidences."

"That doesn't bother you?"

"Not nearly as much as people being transparently evasive."

"Fine!" Paris sighed deeply, "I'm…I want to move."

"To a new apartment?"

"Maybe. Or maybe…a new city," Paris admitted. Jess raised an eyebrow. "My job isn't the best fit anymore. I want to be doing something different when the baby comes. And if I'm going to be doing something else, there's no reason we need to be in Boston."

"What does Doyle think?"

"I haven't talked to him about the job stuff yet," Paris admitted, "I'm just trying to keep the peace. In case you hadn't noticed, we kind of have a lot going on." Paris gestured meaningfully at her baby bump. Jess rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, but isn't that all the more reason to talk to him? And communicate effectively?"

"Where'd you pick that up, some small-independent-press-for-dummies seminar?"

"You really like avoidance, don't you?"

"Look, we're not doing well talking about even the other stuff. I tried talking to Doyle about everything when I got home from visiting you guys and it did not go well. I really tried to get through to him, I completely opened up, and he was just really dismissive in response. Given how poorly that went, I just want to keep things calm and peaceful until the baby's born."

"Because life magically gets easier after you give birth?"

"Because life definitely gets harder if you put yourself in a position to start fights that could lead to a divorce a month before giving birth."

"Fair enough," Jess admitted, impressed at Paris' bluntness, "So you're…"

"Of course I am. But until I know, it's not going to help anything to just add flames to the fire."

"But it's still on your mind."

"Yeah, a lot of things are. There's kind of a lot of stress."

"Plus the baby."

"She's actually the only thing helping, most of the time," Paris admitted, "It's hard to explain."

"I'd say I can imagine, but I'm sure I can't."

"Do you want kids?"

"That's…kind of personal."

"…yeah, sorry."

"No, it's…I think so. We've talked about it. I lean more towards. I guess I always thought I'd like to be a dad. But it's not a dealbreaker for me if Rory decides she doesn't want them."

"I'm not sure I think she really doesn't want them," Paris said, "I think she wants to remain an independent person and have her own life, and the way she saw motherhood in her own life didn't really make that seem possible. Oh, thanks, Sookie!" Paris brightened, taking a small plate of bacon from Sookie.

"Of course!"

"Anyway…"

"What is it with pregnant women and bacon, by the way?" Jess asked, looking on with amusement as she tore through the plate of bacon in mere minutes. Paris grinned.

"It's the greatest food in the history of the world, and when you're pregnant, two people get to enjoy it at the same time."

"…fair enough. I guess I was expecting something a little more intellectual."

"I'm not always what you'd expect," Paris pointed out. Jess nodded.

"I can see that," he agreed, "By the way, the guys at Truncheon really couldn't stop effusing about how brilliant you are."

"And annoying?"

"No, actually," Jess grinned, "Intense, but they found you charming. Rory wasn't kidding. And you really are welcome anytime. Particularly if and as you have your own stuff to figure out."

"I appreciate it. But I'm not gonna put you guys through rooming with a baby, and I'm definitely not leaving her with Doyle," Paris noted. Jess nodded. "But…I may come occasionally and grab a hotel near you. It'd be nice to have…friends, around, you know."

Jess smiled. "Of course. And you make a good point…it's getting harder to keep making our space work. I know we're being evasive about that ourselves. But we're hearing it loud and clear, and I think it's something we're gonna start thinking about. There's just a lot right now, with the wedding and all."

"Well, if there's anything I can do to help…"

"We appreciate it. So, any thoughts on your next career moves?"

"I'm not totally sure," Paris admitted, standing up to stretch, "I've thought about a lot of things. I think I'm leaning towards law or academia."

"Why those?"

"Law…well, because of how badly we need smarter people in those roles," Paris said, rolling her eyes and earning an emphatic nod of agreement from Jess, "And academia…well…I guess I just love it."

"I'm kind of surprised to hear that. It seems like you'd have to deal with a lot of people, and it seems like that might irritate you," Jess said, trying to be delicate. Paris smirked.

"Are you saying I'm not a people-person?"

"I'm…"

"Relax. Only kidding. But the reason I dislike most people is that I just don't have much tolerance for idiots. Making people less idiotic brings me a lot of joy. And spending time with smart people who want to become smarter…I like that idea. I've always felt very at home on a campus, more so than in a traditional office, or even a hospital."

"Boston has schools," Jess pointed out.

"I know, but…I think I'd like to be closer to people that aren't just Doyle," Paris admitted, "We moved there when I went to Harvard for grad school, and it's just…it's a city I loved, for a while, but that now just brings up bad things, and it seems like everyone is really far away."

"And your family?"

"Near Hartford. Not far from here. We aren't that close though."

"…so Rory?"

"And Lorelai," Paris admitted, "Being a mom is…I'm really excited. But it's also scary. My mom didn't do a great job."

"I get that," Jess nodded.

"But I was fortunate enough to have Lorelai Gilmore cross into my life. It seems like looking a gift horse in the mouth to not try to take advantage of that and learn from her, and do so as much as I can."

"That actually makes some sense," Jess nodded, "Especially if…well…"

"If I'm thinking about doing it alone," Paris finished for him. He nodded. "Well…yeah. That's a big thought. And if that happens, I'm gonna need the support more than ever."

"Well, you'll have us, Paris."

"Thanks, Jess."